The Dispatch

Andy Burnham eyes Downing Street after decisive election win

Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path on Friday to ousting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, potentially ushering in a new bout of political instability, by decisively winning a parliamentary…

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Amber heat health alerts issued as heatwave expected to hit UK

Amber heat health alerts have been issued as another heatwave is expected to hit the UK over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the warning covers the…

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Britain announces sweeping social media ban for under-16s

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would ban social media ‌sites for under-16s and impose restrictions on gaming and live-streaming platforms, in a fightback against big tech…

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Anti-immigrant violence erupts across Belfast after knife attack

Masked men burned families out of their homes in Belfast and torched a number of vehicles in a wave of anti-immigrant violence on Tuesday night that followed a knife attack…

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Belgian judge orders bank to reimburse phishing victims after couple lose their life savings

A Belgian court has ordered a bank to immediately reimburse nearly €50,000 to an elderly couple who lost their savings in a phishing scam, in a ruling that could have…

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Hotel Guests Warned After Hackers Access Reservation Information Across Netherlands

Hotel guests in the Netherlands are being targeted with convincing fake payment requests after criminals obtained reservation details through a data breach affecting at least 100 hotels, according to a…

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Growing Drone Threat Raises Concerns Over UK Energy Infrastructure

Britain is considering tighter restrictions on airspace above critical energy infrastructure amid growing concerns that hostile drones could be used to disrupt the country's electricity network and potentially trigger widespread…

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Belgium Tightens Visa Rules for Non‑EU Students in Major Migration Crackdown

Belgium is imposing stricter academic requirements on international students from outside the European Union, warning that those who fail to make sufficient progress risk losing their visas under new migration‑reduction…

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UK Unveils Fresh Measures Targeting Russian Cryptocurrency Operations

Britain targeted Russia-linked cryptocurrency platforms, banks and financial networks ‌that it said were used to bypass sanctions, freezing their assets and barring UK firms from processing payments and holding correspondent…

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Train collides with school van in Belgium, killing four

A train crashed into a school van at a level-crossing in the Belgian town of Buggenhout on Tuesday, killing four people including two special needs pupils, authorities said. The driver…

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David Miliband: Europe and US need ‘separate bedrooms’ but not divorce

David Miliband has warned that Europe should strengthen its independence from the United States without completely breaking away from its long-standing alliance with Washington. Speaking at the Hay Festival, Miliband…

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Zelenskyy rejects Merz proposal for associate EU membership

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a German proposal to grant Ukraine “associate member” status in the European Union, arguing it would leave Kyiv without a proper voice in EU decision-making. In…

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No ‘tailor-made’ deal for UK if it wants to rejoin bloc, say former EU Brexit officials

Former EU officials involved in the Brexit negotiations have warned that Britain would not be able to rejoin the European Union on the favourable terms it previously enjoyed, as debate…

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Merkel says EU should use political influence to secure peace in Ukraine

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised the European Union for not doing enough diplomatically to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine, arguing that Europe is failing to fully use…

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The UK may soon have another female prime minister

Angela Rayner has been cleared of wrongdoing in a tax investigation, removing a potential hurdle to any bid to become the next leader of the ruling Labour Party. The former…

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Britain to strengthen ties with the EU in new legislation

Britain will introduce legislation to strengthen its ties with the European Union, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prioritises mending economic relations with the bloc as he tries to stay in…

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Labour unrest intensifies as British lawmakers push Starmer towards exit

Keir Starmer came under renewed pressure on Monday when four ministerial aides stepped down and more than 70 Labour lawmakers publicly called for the British prime minister's resignation after his…

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UK’s Keir Starmer says Britain must reclaim leading role in Europe in major post-polls address

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged on Monday to prove the “doubters” in his own party and among the electorate as a whole wrong as he tries to fight off demands…

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UK’s Labour Party suffers heavy early losses as Reform gains in elections

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered heavy early losses in elections on Friday, showing the depth of voter anger with his government and raising fresh doubts about his future just…

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UK voters cast ballots in elections expected to deal blow to Starmer

Millions of British voters cast their ballots on Thursday in local and regional elections that are expected to deal a huge blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party and…

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Britain explores legal options to prosecute suspect in McCann disappearance

British police are seeking to bring a German suspect to trial in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, as investigators step up efforts ahead of the 20th anniversary of her case…

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Merz plays down US military withdrawal plans

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has insisted he will maintain close ties with Washington despite plans by Donald Trump to withdraw thousands of US troops. Speaking on German television, Merz said…

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UK set to enter talks to join the European Union’s $105.9 billion Ukraine loan

Britain is set to enter talks to join the European Union's 78 billion ‌pound loan ($106 billion) to Ukraine, the government said, in a further sign of deepening European defence…

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Most Swiss back initiative to cap population

A slim majority of Swiss are backing an upcoming referendum proposal to limit Switzerland's population to 10 million, and support for it is growing, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday.…

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UK lawmakers approve lifetime smoking ban for today’s under-18s

Children in Britain who are 17 or younger, ‌and anyone born in the future, will never be able to legally buy cigarettes after lawmakers approved new stricter restrictions on smoking.…

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Belgians advised to have enough supplies to last 72 hours

Belgium’s National Crisis Centre has launched a nationwide campaign urging citizens to be ready to cope independently for up to 72 hours in the event of an emergency. The initiative…

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Nearly 8,000 people died or disappeared trying to migrate in 2025

Nearly 8,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes last year, with sea routes to Europe the most deadly and many victims lost ‌in "invisible shipwrecks", a U.N. agency said…

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Iran war exposes weakened state of Britain’s armed forces

The Iran war has left Britain's armed forces exposed, heaping pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act on his promises to invest in defence, after years of warnings from…

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ECJ limits detention for rejected asylum seekers to 18 months

The European Court of Justice has ruled that rejected asylum seekers in the Netherlands must be released from detention after a maximum of 18 months, clarifying that this period covers…

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UK foreign minister Cooper cuts short diplomatic tour

British foreign minister Yvette Cooper will cut short an intensive diplomatic tour designed to build consensus around making a ceasefire in the Iran war permanent and on the ‌next steps…

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Two arms brokers on trial in UK for missiles and fighter jet deals with Libya and Sudan

Two arms brokers arranged illegal deals to supply ex-Soviet surface-to-air missile systems to South Sudan and fighter jets to Libya during its civil war, British prosecutors told a London court…

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Far-right AfD overtakes German conservatives in new poll

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has edged ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for a second time this week. The survey published by broadcaster ZDF on Friday showed…

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Netherlands migration bills face backlash over “illegal stay” offence clause

A proposal in the Netherlands to make it a criminal offence to remain in the country without valid residence documents has triggered concern among lawmakers, with critics warning it could…

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UK sets up Brexit-style crisis team to deal with Iran conflict

Keir Starmer is setting up a Brexit-style “Middle East response committee” to reshape how Britain handles the Iran conflict. The prime minister is expected to chair the group for the…

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UK pauses its plan to cede Chagos Islands

The UK government has put on hold plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after intensive opposition by the United Sttes. The proposed legislation underpinning the agreement…

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Germany’s far-right AfD adopts ‘radical’ manifesto ahead of key polls

Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is leading polls in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of September’s regional elections, raising the prospect of the first far-right state government since World War Two. At…

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UK Tracks Russian Submarines Conducting Covert Cable Surveillance

The UK has detected three Russian submarines conducting a covert operation over critical undersea cables and pipelines in waters north of the country, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed. A British…

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UPDATED: Germany works to clarify new rules on fighting-age men leaving country

Germany's armed ‌forces are working on clarifying a provision in a recently updated military service law that requires fighting-age men to gain permission to leave the country for more than…

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Britain eyes summer deadline for EU reset deal

A deal to re-align key parts of the U.K. economy with the European Union is on course to be reached by the early summer, according to the minister in charge…

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CDU/CSU calls for cannabis rethink 2 years in

Government ministers from Germany's conservative CDU and CSU parties on Wednesday called for changes to the 2024 partial legalization of cannabis introduced by the previous more left-leaning coalition government. They…

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Friedrich Merz: Most Syrians to Leave Germany Within Three Years

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he and the Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hope that 80% of the Syrians in Germany will return home in the next three years. During…

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London house prices fall for sixth consecutive month

London house prices have fallen for a sixth consecutive month, marking the sharpest annual decline in nearly two years and signalling a sustained slowdown in the capital’s property market, official…

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UK Government Report Calls for Tigher Rules on Overseas Funding of Political Parties

A review commissioned by the British Government has recommended a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, alongside tighter rules on overseas funding, in an effort to strengthen transparency…

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Belgium to Deploy Soldiers in Streets for Security Patrols

Belgium will begin deploying soldiers on its streets from Monday, Defence Minister Theo Francken announced Thursday during a plenary session of the Chamber of Representatives. Up to 200 soldiers will…

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Netherlands Supports European Rules to Safely Reuse Returned Medication

The Netherlands has signalled support for forthcoming European legislation that would allow patients to return unused medication to pharmacies for safe redistribution, in a move aimed at reducing waste, lowering…

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UK ends centuries-old hereditary seats in House of Lords

Hereditary peers are set to lose their automatic right to sit and vote in the House of Lords, a major reform expected to take effect before the next King’s Speech.…

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British Airways cancels Abu Dhabi service ‘until later this year’

British Airways said it had cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv “until later this month”, while services to and from Abu Dhabi have…

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Six killed in Swiss bus blaze, police probe reports of passenger starting fire

At least six people were killed and three others injured after a bus caught fire in western Switzerland in what police believe may have been a deliberate act. Reports suggest…

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UK Parliament rejects proposal to ban social media use for under-16s

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have rejected a proposal to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, following a vote in the House of Commons…

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Synagogue in Belgian city of Liege damaged in explosion

A synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege ‌was damaged by an explosion early on Monday, Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF reported, citing local police. No injuries were reported. ⁠The…

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Al Fayed abuse should be investigated as human trafficking, says former senior Met officer

A former senior Metropolitan Police officer has urged investigators to widen their probe into allegations of rape and sexual abuse by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to include human…

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Britain to bar study visas for four nations, halt Afghan work visas

Britain said on Tuesday it would block study visas ‌for nationals from four countries and halt work visas for Afghans, using what it called an "emergency brake" to curb rising…

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Rían, Lily most popular baby names in Ireland last year

Rían was the most popular name in Ireland for boys, while Lily was the most popular girls' name last year, according to statistics from the Irish CSO. The top five…

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Embarrassing defeat for UK’s Starmer as Greens seize Labour stronghold

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour suffered an embarrassing election defeat to the left-wing Green Party on Friday in an area of Manchester it had dominated for almost a century, a…

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Gibraltar must follow EU rules

Gibraltar will remain British but must follow EU rules under its new Brexit deal, the full legal text of the agreement has revealed. Madrid deems the British Overseas Territory as…

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UK and French Vessels to Support Ireland in Policing Its Waters

Ireland is to deepen naval co-operation with France and Britain, including allowing their vessels to patrol Irish-controlled waters and offer protection during the EU presidency. The move towards deeper co-operation…

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German drone deal faces scrutiny over Thiel stake

A multibillion euro German military drone contract is facing political scrutiny over billionaire investor Peter Thiel’s stake in a Berlin defence tech firm, according to a report by investigative portal…

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